I gave him a faint glance and continued to feel around the bottom of the fountain.

My old pack mark had been overwritten by one of far greater power five years ago. Of course he couldn’t find it.

But I couldn’t be bothered to explain that to him.

“I don’t need your protection.”

Liam stared at his device, his expression darkening. “Elena, do you have any idea what it means to be a rogue? Without pack protection, you’re nothing more than prey. Any beta could rip you apart without a second thought!”

Seraphina stepped forward, her eyes a mixture of pity and contempt.

“Elena, I know you’ve never accepted your place. But you’re only human—you can’t awaken your wolf, and your bloodline is worthless. That Liam offered you his protection was an act of incredible mercy. Stop this futile display of pride.”

The onlooking werewolves began to murmur among themselves. I could hear their jeers, feel the weight of their scornful gazes.

“A human, delusional enough to think she could earn an Alpha’s love?”

“Look at the pathetic state of her. She’s probably spent the last few years groveling for scraps like a stray.”

“Humans are just humans. Fit only to be our slaves and playthings.”

My fingers brushed against a smooth, round stone. My son’s moonstone!

I carefully lifted it from the water and wiped its surface.

“Found it,” I said, relieved, and started to stand.

Suddenly, a hand roughly grabbed my wrist.

Liam’s grip was like steel, forcing me to my feet.

“Elena,” he said, his voice low, but every wolf in the room could hear him. “You looked down on my protection back then. Now you probably can’t find a single pack in this city willing to take you in, can you?”

“This is the price for rejecting an Alpha’s protection, you ungrateful wretch!”

His fingers tightened, pain shooting through my wrist. But I was more worried about him crushing the moonstone in my palm.

“Let me go!”

“Let you go?” Liam sneered. “Do you have any idea how many rogue humans die out in the wilds without a pack to shield them?”

“I’m giving you one last chance. Get on your knees and beg me. Like a dog. I might consider giving you a place as the lowest slave in my pack.”

I looked at Liam. His face was arrogant and contemptuous, with none of the gentleness he once possessed.

“I told you, I don’t need your protection.”

“Why?” he suddenly roared, unleashing his Alpha’s dominance. “Who else would have you? A human cast-off! Who could you possibly turn to but me?”

His dominance was powerful, and the lower-ranking wolves around us instinctively bowed their heads. But to me, it was nothing.

A far greater power shielded me from within—the mark of my true mate.

“Because,” I lifted my head and met his gaze, “I already have a fated mate.”

Liam’s hand went slack. His expression shifted from rage to shock, then to utter disbelief.

“You’re a human. How could you possibly have a mate?”